Methods, systems, apparatuses and devices for facilitating user participation in a challenge

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a method of facilitating user participation in a challenge, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, the method may include a step of receiving, using a communication device, at least one recording from a recording device configured to record the challenge performed by the user to obtain the at least one recording. Further, the method may include a step of analyzing, using a processing device, the at least one recording to determine if the at least one condition is fulfilled. Further, the method may include a step of transmitting, using the communication device, information about at least one reward to the user device based on the analyzing.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patentapplication Ser. No. 62/648,830 filed Mar. 27, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Generally, the present disclosure relates to the field of dataprocessing. More specifically, the present disclosure relates tomethods, systems, apparatuses and devices for facilitating userparticipation in a challenge.

BACKGROUND

Individuals play multiple sports as pastime, and for leisure, or forfitness. Further, individuals may also engage in friendly challenges,and competitions in sports, the goals of which may differ from theactual rules of the sport.

Further, individuals are able to partake in such sporting challenges togain rewards, or prizes. However, individuals, or companies facilitatingthese challenges may have to physically verify the performance of suchchallenges before facilitating the individuals who may have performedthe said challenges with one or more prizes and/or awards.

Existing techniques for facilitating user participation in a challengeare deficient with regard to several aspects. For instance, currenttechnologies do not automatically verify the performance of challengesby one or more individuals in multiple sport disciplines through videos.Furthermore, current technologies do not verify the performance ofchallenges by one or more individuals in multiple sport disciplinesthrough additional sensory data such as GPS.

Therefore, there is a need for improved methods, systems, apparatusesand devices for facilitating user participation in a challenge that mayovercome one or more of the above-mentioned problems and/or limitations.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form, that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this summaryintended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.

Disclosed herein is a method of facilitating user participation in achallenge, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, the methodmay include a step of receiving, using a communication device, at leastone recording from a recording device configured to record the challengeperformed by the user to obtain the at least one recording. Further, themethod may include a step of analyzing, using a processing device, theat least one recording to determine if the at least one condition isfulfilled. Further, the method may include a step of transmitting, usingthe communication device, information about at least one reward to theuser device based on the analyzing.

Further disclosed herein is a system for facilitating user participationin a challenge, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, thesystem may include a communication device configured to receive at leastone recording from a recording device configured to record the challengeperformed by the user to obtain the at least one recording. Further, thecommunication device may be configured to transmit, information about atleast one reward to the user device based on an analyzing. Further, thesystem may include a processing device configured to analyze the atleast one recording to determine if the at least one condition isfulfilled.

Both the foregoing summary and the following detailed descriptionprovide examples and are explanatory only. Accordingly, the foregoingsummary and the following detailed description should not be consideredto be restrictive. Further, features or variations may be provided inaddition to those set forth herein. For example, embodiments may bedirected to various feature combinations and sub-combinations describedin the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The drawings contain representations of various trademarksand copyrights owned by the Applicants. In addition, the drawings maycontain other marks owned by third parties and are being used forillustrative purposes only. All rights to various trademarks andcopyrights represented herein, except those belonging to theirrespective owners, are vested in and the property of the applicants. Theapplicants retain and reserve all rights in their trademarks andcopyrights included herein, and grant permission to reproduce thematerial only in connection with reproduction of the granted patent andfor no other purpose.

Furthermore, the drawings may contain text or captions that may explaincertain embodiments of the present disclosure. This text is included forillustrative, non-limiting, explanatory purposes of certain embodimentsdetailed in the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an online platform consistent with variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a system of facilitating user participation in a challenge, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of facilitating user participation ina challenge, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for analyzing the at least onerecording to determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled,in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart of a method to facilitate validation ofperformance of challenges in golf through user-generated videos, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a computing device for implementing themethods disclosed herein, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one havingordinary skill in the relevant art that the present disclosure has broadutility and application. As should be understood, any embodiment mayincorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects ofthe disclosure and may further incorporate only one or a plurality ofthe above-disclosed features. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed andidentified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best modecontemplated for carrying out the embodiments of the present disclosure.Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrativepurposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure. Moreover, manyembodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, andequivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodimentsdescribed herein and fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Accordingly, while embodiments are described herein in detail inrelation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that thisdisclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present disclosure, andare made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enablingdisclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments isnot intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patentprotection afforded in any claim of a patent issuing here from, whichscope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It isnot intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by readinginto any claim limitation found herein and/or issuing here from thatdoes not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps ofvarious processes or methods that are described herein are illustrativeand not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, althoughsteps of various processes or methods may be shown and described asbeing in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processesor methods are not limited to being carried out in any particularsequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps insuch processes or methods generally may be carried out in variousdifferent sequences and orders while still falling within the scope ofthe present disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope ofpatent protection is to be defined by the issued claim(s) rather thanthe description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refersto that which an ordinary artisan would understand such term to meanbased on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that themeaning of a term used herein—as understood by the ordinary artisanbased on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from anyparticular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that themeaning of the term as understood by the ordinary artisan shouldprevail.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an”each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a pluralityunless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join alist of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does notexclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein tojoin a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawingsand the following description to refer to the same or similar elements.While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described,modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. Forexample, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to theelements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described hereinmay be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to thedisclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description doesnot limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure isdefined by the claims found herein and/or issuing here from. The presentdisclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headersare used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon thesubjected matter disclosed under the header.

The present disclosure includes many aspects and features. Moreover,while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in thecontext of user participation in a challenge, embodiments of the presentdisclosure are not limited to use only in this context.

In general, the method disclosed herein may be performed by one or morecomputing devices. For example, in some embodiments, the method may beperformed by a server computer in communication with one or more clientdevices over a communication network such as, for example, the Internet.In some other embodiments, the method may be performed by one or more ofat least one server computer, at least one client device, at least onenetwork device, at least one sensor and at least one actuator. Examplesof the one or more client devices and/or the server computer mayinclude, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, apersonal digital assistant, a portable electronic device, a wearablecomputer, a smart phone, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, a smartelectrical appliance, a video game console, a rack server, asuper-computer, a mainframe computer, mini-computer, micro-computer, astorage server, an application server (e.g. a mail server, a web server,a real-time communication server, an FTP server, a virtual server, aproxy server, a DNS server etc.), a quantum computer, and so on.Further, one or more client devices and/or the server computer may beconfigured for executing a software application such as, for example,but not limited to, an operating system (e.g. Windows, Mac OS, Unix,Linux, Android, etc.) in order to provide a user interface (e.g. GUI,touch-screen based interface, voice based interface, gesture basedinterface etc.) for use by the one or more users and/or a networkinterface for communicating with other devices over a communicationnetwork. Accordingly, the server computer may include a processingdevice configured for performing data processing tasks such as, forexample, but not limited to, analyzing, identifying, determining,generating, transforming, calculating, computing, compressing,decompressing, encrypting, decrypting, scrambling, splitting, merging,interpolating, extrapolating, redacting, anonymizing, encoding anddecoding. Further, the server computer may include a communicationdevice configured for communicating with one or more external devices.The one or more external devices may include, for example, but are notlimited to, a client device, a third party database, public database, aprivate database and so on. Further, the communication device may beconfigured for communicating with the one or more external devices overone or more communication channels. Further, the one or morecommunication channels may include a wireless communication channeland/or a wired communication channel. Accordingly, the communicationdevice may be configured for performing one or more of transmitting andreceiving of information in electronic form. Further, the servercomputer may include a storage device configured for performing datastorage and/or data retrieval operations. In general, the storage devicemay be configured for providing reliable storage of digital information.Accordingly, in some embodiments, the storage device may be based ontechnologies such as, but not limited to, data compression, data backup,data redundancy, deduplication, error correction, data finger-printing,role based access control, and so on.

Further, one or more steps of the method disclosed herein may beinitiated, maintained, controlled and/or terminated based on a controlinput received from one or more devices operated by one or more userssuch as, for example, but not limited to, an end user, an admin, aservice provider, a service consumer, an agent, a broker and arepresentative thereof. Further, the user as defined herein may refer toa human, an animal or an artificially intelligent being in any state ofexistence, unless stated otherwise, elsewhere in the present disclosure.Further, in some embodiments, the one or more users may be required tosuccessfully perform authentication in order for the control input to beeffective. In general, a user of the one or more users may performauthentication based on the possession of a secret human readable secretdata (e.g. username, password, passphrase, PIN, secret question, secretanswer etc.) and/or possession of a machine readable secret data (e.g.encryption key, decryption key, bar codes, etc.) and/or or possession ofone or more embodied characteristics unique to the user (e.g. biometricvariables such as, but not limited to, fingerprint, palm-print, voicecharacteristics, behavioral characteristics, facial features, irispattern, heart rate variability, evoked potentials, brain waves, and soon) and/or possession of a unique device (e.g. a device with a uniquephysical and/or chemical and/or biological characteristic, a hardwaredevice with a unique serial number, a network device with a uniqueIP/MAC address, a telephone with a unique phone number, a smartcard withan authentication token stored thereupon, etc.). Accordingly, the one ormore steps of the method may include communicating (e.g. transmittingand/or receiving) with one or more sensor devices and/or one or moreactuators in order to perform authentication. For example, the one ormore steps may include receiving, using the communication device, thesecret human readable data from an input device such as, for example, akeyboard, a keypad, a touch-screen, a microphone, a camera and so on.Likewise, the one or more steps may include receiving, using thecommunication device, the one or more embodied characteristics from oneor more biometric sensors.

Further, one or more steps of the method may be automatically initiated,maintained and/or terminated based on one or more predefined conditions.In an instance, the one or more predefined conditions may be based onone or more contextual variables. In general, the one or more contextualvariables may represent a condition relevant to the performance of theone or more steps of the method. The one or more contextual variablesmay include, for example, but are not limited to, location, time,identity of a user associated with a device (e.g. the server computer, aclient device etc.) corresponding to the performance of the one or moresteps, environmental variables (e.g. temperature, humidity, pressure,wind speed, lighting, sound, etc.) associated with a devicecorresponding to the performance of the one or more steps, physicalstate and/or physiological state and/or psychological state of the user,physical state (e.g. motion, direction of motion, orientation, speed,velocity, acceleration, trajectory, etc.) of the device corresponding tothe performance of the one or more steps and/or semantic content of dataassociated with the one or more users. Accordingly, the one or moresteps may include communicating with one or more sensors and/or one ormore actuators associated with the one or more contextual variables. Forexample, the one or more sensors may include, but are not limited to, atiming device (e.g. a real-time clock), a location sensor (e.g. a GPSreceiver, a GLONASS receiver, an indoor location sensor etc.), abiometric sensor (e.g. a fingerprint sensor), an environmental variablesensor (e.g. temperature sensor, humidity sensor, pressure sensor, etc.)and a device state sensor (e.g. a power sensor, a voltage/currentsensor, a switch-state sensor, a usage sensor, etc. associated with thedevice corresponding to performance of the or more steps).

Further, the one or more steps of the method may be performed one ormore number of times. Additionally, the one or more steps may beperformed in any order other than as exemplarily disclosed herein,unless explicitly stated otherwise, elsewhere in the present disclosure.Further, two or more steps of the one or more steps may, in someembodiments, be simultaneously performed, at least in part. Further, insome embodiments, there may be one or more time gaps between performanceof any two steps of the one or more steps.

Further, in some embodiments, the one or more predefined conditions maybe specified by the one or more users. Accordingly, the one or moresteps may include receiving, using the communication device, the one ormore predefined conditions from one or more and devices operated by theone or more users. Further, the one or more predefined conditions may bestored in the storage device. Alternatively, and/or additionally, insome embodiments, the one or more predefined conditions may beautomatically determined, using the processing device, based onhistorical data corresponding to performance of the one or more steps.For example, the historical data may be collected, using the storagedevice, from a plurality of instances of performance of the method. Suchhistorical data may include performance actions (e.g. initiating,maintaining, interrupting, terminating, etc.) of the one or more stepsand/or the one or more contextual variables associated therewith.Further, machine learning may be performed on the historical data inorder to determine the one or more predefined conditions. For instance,machine learning on the historical data may determine a correlationbetween one or more contextual variables and performance of the one ormore steps of the method. Accordingly, the one or more predefinedconditions may be generated, using the processing device, based on thecorrelation.

Further, one or more steps of the method may be performed at one or morespatial locations. For instance, the method may be performed by aplurality of devices interconnected through a communication network.Accordingly, in an example, one or more steps of the method may beperformed by a server computer. Similarly, one or more steps of themethod may be performed by a client computer. Likewise, one or moresteps of the method may be performed by an intermediate entity such as,for example, a proxy server. For instance, one or more steps of themethod may be performed in a distributed fashion across the plurality ofdevices in order to meet one or more objectives. For example, oneobjective may be to provide load balancing between two or more devices.Another objective may be to restrict a location of one or more of aninput data, an output data and any intermediate data therebetweencorresponding to one or more steps of the method. For example, in aclient-server environment, sensitive data corresponding to a user maynot be allowed to be transmitted to the server computer. Accordingly,one or more steps of the method operating on the sensitive data and/or aderivative thereof may be performed at the client device.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an online platform 100 consistent withvarious embodiments of the present disclosure. By way of non-limitingexample, the online platform 100 to facilitate user participation in achallenge may be hosted on a centralized server 102, such as, forexample, a cloud computing service. The centralized server 102 maycommunicate with other network entities, such as, for example, a mobiledevice 104 (such as a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet computer etc.),other electronic devices 106 (such as desktop computers, servercomputers etc.), databases 108, and sensors 110 over a communicationnetwork 114, such as, but not limited to, the Internet. Further, usersof the online platform 100 may include relevant parties such as, but notlimited to, end users, administrators, service providers, serviceconsumers and so on. Accordingly, in some instances, electronic devicesoperated by the one or more relevant parties may be in communicationwith the platform.

A user 116, such as the one or more relevant parties, may access onlineplatform 100 through a web based software application or browser. Theweb based software application may be embodied as, for example, but notbe limited to, a website, a web application, a desktop application, anda mobile application compatible with a computing device 600.

According to some embodiments, the online platform 100 may be configuredto facilitate user participation in a challenge. The challenges maypertain to any sport, such as golf, basketball, and so on, and mayinclude the performance of one or more maneuvers specific to the sport.For instance, if a challenge pertains to basketball, the challenge mayinclude getting a basket from half-court on a basketball court.

Further, the online platform 100 may communicate with one or more userdevices, such as the mobile device 104, and the other electronic devices106. The one or more user devices may include one or more mobile devicessuch as, but not limited to, smartphones, computer tablets, laptops, andso on. The one or more user devices may include a communication deviceconfigured to communicate over a communication network such as, but notlimited to, a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal areanetwork, Bluetooth, Internet and so on. The one or more users of theonline platform 100, such as one or more players, challenge takers, andso on, may use the one or more user devices to capture one or morevideos displaying one or more challenges performed by the one or moreusers, and to access the online platform 100 receive validation, andverification of one or more challenges that may have been performed bythe one or more users.

Accordingly, to facilitate validation of performance of a challenge by auser through one or more user-generated videos, the online platform 100may receive, using a communication device, one or more uniqueidentifiers, describing user information from one or more connected userdevices of a user. The one or more unique identifiers may includepersonal information such as the name, age, gender, location, etc. ofthe user. In an instance, the one or more identifiers may be receivedthrough an input mechanism of the one or more user devices such as, forexample, a desktop computer, laptop computer, a tablet computer, amobile device, or a wearable device. Further, the one or more userdevices may be configured to communicate with the communication deviceof a server computer. Accordingly, in an instance, the one or moreidentifiers input through the input mechanism may be transmitted fromthe one or more user devices to the server computer.

Further, the online platform 100 may receive, through the communicationdevice, one or more indicators about a sport in which the user may wishto perform a challenge, and one or more indicators describing thechallenge. For instance, the user may wish to perform a challengepertaining to golf. Accordingly, the challenge may include getting ahole-in-one in par 3 hole or getting a hole in one from a distance of atleast 165 yards. In an instance, the one or more indicators may bereceived through an input mechanism of the one or more user devices suchas, for example, a desktop computer, laptop computer, a tablet computer,a mobile device, or a wearable device. Further, the one or more userdevices may be configured to communicate with the communication deviceof a server computer. Accordingly, in an instance, the one or moreindicators input through the input mechanism may be transmitted from theone or more user devices to the server computer.

Further, the online platform 100 may receive, through the communicationdevice, a video, and associated data, displaying the user performing theindicated challenge, wherein the video may have been recorded through auser device of the user. Associated data may include metadata associatedwith the video, such as one or more of frame rate, date, and time ofcapturing, duration of the video, and so on. Further, associated datamay include sensory data captured through one or more sensors of theuser device used to capture the video (such as sensors 110), such aslocation, that may have been captured through a location sensor, such asGPS. In an instance, the video may be received through an inputmechanism of the user devices that may have been used by the user tocapture the video, such as a tablet computer, or a smartphone. Further,the user device used to capture the video may be configured tocommunicate with the communication device of a server computer.Accordingly, in an instance, the captured video input through the inputmechanism may be transmitted from the user device used to capture thevideo to the server computer.

Further, the online platform 100 may retrieve, through a storage device,additional data from one or more external databases. For instance,additional data may include location information about one or morelocations where the user may perform the challenge. For instance, if theuser wishes to perform a golf challenge that may include getting ahole-in-one in par 4 hole, the additional data retrieved by the onlineplatform 100 may include GPS coordinates of one or more holes on one ormore golf courses where the user may undertake the challenge. Further,if the user wishes to perform a challenge related to football, such askicking a field goal from 70 yards, the additional data retrieved by theonline platform 100 may include GPS coordinates of one or more footballstadiums, along with GPS coordinates of one or more field goals in theone or more stadiums.

Further, the online platform 100 may, through a processing device,analyze the received video, and additional retrieved data to validatewhether the user may have completed the undertaken challenge. Forinstance, the video may be analyzed to determine whether the video mayfulfill one or more rules that may be associated with the challenge,pertaining to the performance of the challenge, and/or recording of thevideo. For instance, if one or the rules of the challenge states thatthe video may have to be filmed in a single take, the received video maybe analyzed to detect signs of discontinuity to determine whether thewhether the video may have been filmed in a single take. Further, imagerecognition may be used to determine whether the challenge may have beensuccessfully completed. For instance, if the challenge pertains to golf,and is getting a hole in one, the video may be analyzed to determinewhether the golf ball may have landed in the hole after the completionof the shot. Further, additional data retrieved from the one or moreexternal databases may be analyzed in conjunction with data associatedwith the video. For instance, if the user wishes to perform a challengepertaining to golf, such as getting a hole-in-one in par 3 hole, orgetting a hole in one from a distance of at least 165 yards, theassociated data received from the video, such as location of the usermay be analyzed to determine a particular golf course, and a particularhole where the user may be attempting to make the shot. Further, thelocation of the user may be analyzed to determine the position of theuser in the particular golf course, such as a particular green, or hole.Further, additional data retrieved from the one or more externaldatabases may be analyzed to determine the GPS location of one or moreholes on the golf course on which the user may be attempting thechallenge. Accordingly, additional data retrieved from the one or moreexternal databases, and associated data received from the video may beanalyzed to determine whether the user may be a stipulated distance awayfrom the hole in which the user may choose to make the shot and get thehole in one. Accordingly, if all the conditions, and rules associatedwith the challenge are determined to be fulfilled, the user may bedetermined to have successfully completed the challenge. Further, in anembodiment, third party verifiers may be used to determine whether thechallenge may have been completed by the user. Accordingly, the onlineplatform 100 may transmit the received data, such as the video, andassociated, and additional data to one or more third-party verifiers,wherein the third-party verifiers may validate whether the challenge mayhave been completed. Accordingly, the one or more third-party verifiersmay transmit the result of the challenge to the online platform 100. Forinstance, the received data may be transmitted to one or more sportsexperts, who may perform the determine whether the challenge may havebeen completed.

Further, the online platform 100 may transmit, using the communicationdevice, a pre-decided winning prize associated with the challengeperformed by the user, into a designated account of the user. In aninstance, the winning prize may be a currency amount, which may betransferred into a designated bank account of the user. Further, if thewinning prize includes one or more coupons that may be utilized by theuser, the one or more coupons may be transmitted into a preferred deviceof the user, such as in the form of an image, or a code, to the userdevice of the user.

Further, in an embodiment, the online platform 100 may analyze thevideo, associated data, such as frame rate, and determine whether theuser may have completed the challenge. For instance, if the challengepertains to golf, and getting a hole-in-one from a certain distance,such as 130 yards, the online platform 100 may analyze the video againstassociated parameters, such as frame rate, and determine whether theuser may have made the hole-in-one from an appropriate distance.

Further, in an embodiment, the online platform 100 may receive, throughthe communication device one or more hardware, software, and storageinformation pertaining to the user device that may be used to capturethe video of the user performing the challenge. For instance, the onlineplatform 100 may receive one, or more of storage information, batteryinformation, camera specifications, and so on. In an instance, theonline platform 100 may query appropriate modules in the user device,such as a storage module, and power module to obtain the requiredinformation. Accordingly, based on the analysis of the received data,the online platform 100 may allow the user to capture the video of theuser performing the challenge. For instance, if the battery in the userdevice is below a pre-defined percentage, the online platform 100 maynot allow the user device to capture the video.

Further, in an embodiment, the one or more criteria for the one or moresoftware information, hardware information, and storage information maybe determined on the basis of the particular challenge that the user maywish to undertake. For instance, the amount of battery percentage, andstorage space that may be determined to be pre-requisite to record avideo for a challenge pertaining to golf may be higher than the amountof battery percentage, and storage space that may be determined to bepre-requisite to record a video for a challenge pertaining to basketballowing to a potential difference in length of the video.

FIG. 2 is a system 200 of facilitating user participation in achallenge, in accordance with some embodiments. Further, the challengemay include at least one condition to be fulfilled by a user. Further,the system 200 may include a communication device 202 configured toreceive at least one recording from a recording device configured torecord the challenge performed by the user to obtain the at least onerecording, and transmit information about at least one reward to theuser device based on an analyzing. Further, the system 200 may include aprocessing device 204 configured to analyze the at least one recordingto determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled. Further,the recording device may include at least one of a digital camera, amicrophone, a camera drone, and so on. Further, the at least one rewardmay include at least one of a monetary reward in the form of anelectronic transfer to a designated bank account, a discount coupontransmitted to the user device, and a cryptocurrency reward transferredto a crypto-currency wallet.

Further, the at least one condition may include at least one allowedvalue related to at least one measurable parameter related to thechallenge.

Further, in an embodiment, the at least one measurable parameter relatedto the challenge may describe the at least one condition related to thechallenge. Further, the at least one allowed value related to the atleast one measurable parameter may correspond to a numerical value ofthe measurable parameter required to be fulfilled by the user whileperforming the challenge. For instance, the challenge may be related togolf. Further, a condition of the at least one condition related to thechallenge may describe that the user may need to make a hole in one froma distance of 100 yards. Accordingly, a measurable parameter of the atleast one measurable parameter may include a distance, with an allowedvalue of the at least one allowed value with a numerical value of 100yards. Further, in an instance, the challenge may be related tobasketball. Further, a condition of the at least one condition relatedto the challenge may describe that the user may need to score 3consecutive baskets from a distance of 50 feet and at an angle of 90degrees from the basket. Accordingly, three measurable parameters of theat least one measurable parameter may include a distance, an allowedvalue of the at least one allowed value with a numerical value of 50feet, an angle, an allowed value of the at least one allowed value witha numerical value of 90 degrees, and a count, an allowed value of the atleast one allowed value with a numerical value of 3.

Further, in an embodiment, the at least one measurable parameter mayinclude time, with an associated at least one allowed value. Forinstance, the challenge may include a condition describing that the usermay need to balance a soccer ball on his head for a time (measurableparameter) with an allowed value of 120 seconds.

Further, in an embodiment, the measurable parameter may include anallowed value with an associated lower limit. For instance, thechallenge may be related to soccer, wherein the user may be required tohit a crossbar of a goal with a soccer ball from a distance with anallowed value of at least 50 meters.

Further, in an embodiment, the measurable parameter may include anorientation of a user. For instance, the challenge may be related tobasketball, wherein the condition may require the user to score a basketfrom a distance with an allowed value of 80 feet, wherein the measurableparameter may include an orientation of the user as facing away from thebasket, and being blindfolded.

Further, the processing device 204 may be configured to obtain at leastone actual value related to the at least one measurable parameter fromthe at least one recording. Further, the at least one actual value maycorrespond to a numerical value that may have been fulfilled by theuser. For instance, the challenge may be related to golf, with acondition of the at least one condition related to the challengedescribing that the user may be required to make a hole in one from adistance (measurable parameter), with an allowed value of the at leastone allowed value with a numerical value of 100 yards.

Further, the processing device 204 may be configured to analyze therecording, such as through image processing, and determine at least oneactual value related to the measurable parameter. For instance, theprocessing device 204 may be configured to determine an actual valuecorresponding to the distance from which the user may have made a holein one.

Further, in an embodiment, the processing device 204 may be configuredto determine if the condition related to the challenge may have beencompleted. For instance, the challenge may be related to golf, with acondition of the at least one condition related to the challengedescribing that the user may be required to make a hole in one from adistance (measurable parameter), with an allowed value of the at leastone allowed value with a numerical value of 100 yards. Further, theprocessing device 204 may be configured to determine, such as throughimage processing of one or more frames of the recording, whether theuser may have made a hole in one.

Further, the processing device 204 may be configured to compare the atleast one allowed value and the at least one actual value to determineif the at least one condition may be fulfilled. Further, in anembodiment, the condition may be determined to have been fulfilled ifthe actual value may be equal to the at least one allowed value.

Further, in some embodiments, the recording device may include the userdevice, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, and so on.

Further, in some embodiments, the at least one recording may include anaudio-video footage of the user performing the challenge.

Further, in some embodiments, the recording device may be configured torecord the challenge based on at least one pre-defined rule. Further,the at least one pre-defined rule may include an orientation of therecording device while obtaining the recording. For instance, if the atleast one recording includes an audio-video footage of the userperforming the challenge, the rule may specify the orientation of therecording device to obtain the audio-video footage in a landscape mode(horizontal orientation), or a portrait mode (vertical orientation).Further, the at-least one orientation may include a format of recording.For instance, if the at least one recording includes an audio-videofootage of the user performing the challenge, the rule may specify theformat of the audio-video to include at least one of FLV (.flv), MP4(.mp4), and Matroska (.mkv). Further, the at least one pre-defined rulemay describe that the recording may be required to be captured in onesingle take, without breaks. Further, the at least one pre-defined rulemay describe a positioning of the user, and one or more articles in therecording while obtaining the recording. For instance, if the at leastone recording includes an audio-video footage of the user performing thechallenge, wherein the challenge may include performing 5000 keep-upswith a soccer ball, the rule may specify that the user, and the soccerball may be required to be visible in the recording while the user maybe performing the challenge.

Further, in some embodiments, the processing device 204 may beconfigured to determine at least one characteristic of at least onearticle related to the challenge before the challenge may be performedand after the challenge may be performed. Further, the at least onerecording may include content before the challenge may be performed andafter the challenge may be performed. Further, the processing device 204may be configured to compare the at least one characteristic of the atleast one article before the challenge may be performed and after thechallenge may be performed to obtain a matching score. Further, theprocessing device 204 may be configured to authenticate the challengebased on the comparing. Further, the at least one characteristic mayinclude at least one physical characteristic of the at least one articlerelated to the challenge. For instance, if the at least one article mayinclude a golf ball. Further, the at least physical characteristic mayinclude at least one of a shape, a color, a volume, and a number ofdimples on the golf ball. Further, the processing device 204 may beconfigured to determine at least one physical characteristic of the golfball the challenge may be performed, wherein the challenge may includehitting a hole in one, and after the challenge may be performed.Further, the processing device 204 may be configured compare the atleast one physical characteristic of the golf ball before the challengemay be performed, after the challenge may be performed. Further, theprocessing device 204 may be configured to generate the matching scoreupon determining that the at least one physical characteristic of thegolf ball before the challenge may be performed and after the challengemay be performed may be same. Further, the processing device 204 mayauthenticate the performance of the challenge by the user.

Further, in some embodiments, the communication device 202 may beconfigured to transmit the at least one condition, and the at least onerecording to a third party verifier device to determine the challengecompletion. Further, in some embodiments, the communication device 202may be configured to receive at least one of a confirmation, or a denialof the challenge completion from the third party verifier device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method 300 of facilitating user participationin a challenge, in accordance with some embodiments. Further, thechallenge may include at least one condition to be fulfilled by a user.Further, at 302, the method 300 may include

receiving, using a communication device, such as the communicationdevice 202, at least one recording from a recording device configured torecord the challenge performed by the user to obtain the at least onerecording.

Further, at 304, the method 300 may include analyzing, using aprocessing device, such as the processing device 204, the at least onerecording to determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled.

Further, at 306, the method 300 may include transmitting, using thecommunication device, information about at least one reward to the userdevice based on the analyzing. Further, the at least one condition mayinclude at least one allowed value related to at least one measurableparameter related to the challenge.

Further, the analyzing may include obtaining at least one actual valuerelated to the at least one measurable parameter from the at least onerecording.

Further, the analyzing may include comparing the at least one allowedvalue and the at least one actual value to determine if the at least onecondition may be fulfilled.

Further, the recording device may be the user device.

Further, the recording device may be configured to record the challengebased on at least one pre-defined rule.

Further, the at least one recording may include an audio-video footageof the user performing the challenge.

Further, the method 300 may include transmitting, using thecommunication device, the at least one condition, and the at least onerecording to a third party verifier device to determine the challengecompletion.

Further, the method 300 may include receiving, using the processingdevice at least one of a confirmation, or a denial of the challengecompletion from the third party verifier device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method 400 for analyzing the at least onerecording to determine if the at least one condition may be fulfilled,in accordance with some embodiments. Further, at 402, the method 400 mayinclude determining at least one characteristic of at least one articlerelated to the challenge before the challenge may be performed and afterthe challenge may be performed. Further, the at least one recording mayinclude content before the challenge may be performed and after thechallenge may be performed.

Further, at 404, the method 400 may include comparing the at least onecharacteristic of the at least one article before the challenge may beperformed and after the challenge may be performed to obtain a matchingscore.

Further, at 406, the method 400 may include authenticating the challengebased on the comparing.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart of a method 500 displaying one or moresteps that may be performed by a user, such as the user 116 to registeron a platform, such as the online platform 100, or the platform tofacilitate validation of performance of challenges in golf throughuser-generated videos. Further, at 502, the method 500 may includedisplaying home screen. Further, at 504, the method 500 may includecreating an account or logging in. Further, at 506, the method 500 mayinclude creating user account if user account does not exist. Further,at 508, the method 500 may include reading and accepting rules. Further,at 510, the method 500 may include getting distance for game shot.Further, at 512, the method 500 may include determining if distance iswithin allowed range. Further, at 514, the method 500 may include movingand recalculating distance or quitting. Further, at 516, the method 500may include paying entry fee. Further, at 518, the method 500 mayinclude recording video on mobile device. Further, at 520, the method500 may include saving video to server, such as the centralized server102. Further, at 522, the method 500 may include determining if the useris a winner. Further, at 524, the method 500 may include share video onsocial media if the user is not a winner. Further, at 526, the method500 may include collecting user information if the user is a winner.Further, at 528, the method 500 may include sending notification to 3rdparty verification service. Further, at 530, the method 500 may includeverifying win.

Further, at 532, the method 500 may include sending prize to winner ifwin is verified. Further, at 534, the method 500 may include launchingforensic investigation if win is not verified. Further, at 536, themethod 500 may include verifying win after forensic investigation.Further, at 538, the method 500 may include deeming win to be null andvoid if win is not verified after forensic investigation. Further, toverify distance, at 540, the method 500 may include selectingverification distance. Further, at 542, the method 500 may includereceiving geo-data from a position of the user, and obtaining locationof a current hole from a database, such as the database 108.

Further, at 544, the method 500 may include calculating distance fromcurrent location to a front of green for the current hole.

With reference to FIG. 6, a system consistent with an embodiment of thedisclosure may include a computing device or cloud service, such ascomputing device 600. In a basic configuration, computing device 600 mayinclude at least one processing unit 602 and a system memory 604.Depending on the configuration and type of computing device, systemmemory 604 may comprise, but is not limited to, volatile (e.g.random-access memory (RAM)), non-volatile (e.g. read-only memory (ROM)),flash memory, or any combination. System memory 604 may includeoperating system 605, one or more programming modules 606, and mayinclude a program data 607. Operating system 605, for example, may besuitable for controlling computing device 600's operation. In oneembodiment, programming modules 606 may include image-processing module,machine learning module. Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosure maybe practiced in conjunction with a graphics library, other operatingsystems, or any other application program and is not limited to anyparticular application or system. This basic configuration isillustrated in FIG. 6 by those components within a dashed line 608.

Computing device 600 may have additional features or functionality. Forexample, computing device 600 may also include additional data storagedevices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magneticdisks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated inFIG. 6 by a removable storage 609 and a non-removable storage 610.Computer storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removableand non-removable media implemented in any method or technology forstorage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, datastructures, program modules, or other data. System memory 604, removablestorage 609, and non-removable storage 610 are all computer storagemedia examples (i.e., memory storage.) Computer storage media mayinclude, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, electrically erasableread-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology,CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to storeinformation and which can be accessed by computing device 600. Any suchcomputer storage media may be part of device 600. Computing device 600may also have input device(s) 612 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, asound input device, a touch input device, a location sensor, a camera, abiometric sensor, etc. Output device(s) 614 such as a display, speakers,a printer, etc. may also be included. The aforementioned devices areexamples and others may be used.

Computing device 600 may also contain a communication connection 616that may allow device 600 to communicate with other computing devices618, such as over a network in a distributed computing environment, forexample, an intranet or the Internet. Communication connection 616 isone example of communication media. Communication media may typically beembodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, programmodules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information deliverymedia. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that hasone or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encodeinformation in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,communication media may include wired media such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radiofrequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media. The term computerreadable media as used herein may include both storage media andcommunication media.

As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may bestored in system memory 604, including operating system 605. Whileexecuting on processing unit 602, programming modules 606 (e.g.,application 620 such as a media player) may perform processes including,for example, one or more stages of methods, algorithms, systems,applications, servers, databases as described above. The aforementionedprocess is an example, and processing unit 602 may perform otherprocesses. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure may include machine learningapplications.

Generally, consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, programmodules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, andother types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that mayimplement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments of thedisclosure may be practiced with other computer system configurations,including hand-held devices, general purpose graphics processor-basedsystems, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmableconsumer electronics, application specific integrated circuit-basedelectronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like.Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practiced in distributedcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote memory storage devices.

Furthermore, embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in anelectrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged orintegrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizinga microprocessor, or on a single chip containing electronic elements ormicroprocessors. Embodiments of the disclosure may also be practicedusing other technologies capable of performing logical operations suchas, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited tomechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition,embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced within a general-purposecomputer or in any other circuits or systems.

Embodiments of the disclosure, for example, may be implemented as acomputer process (method), a computing system, or as an article ofmanufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readablemedia. The computer program product may be a computer storage mediareadable by a computer system and encoding a computer program ofinstructions for executing a computer process. The computer programproduct may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by acomputing system and encoding a computer program of instructions forexecuting a computer process. Accordingly, the present disclosure may beembodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, residentsoftware, micro-code, etc.). In other words, embodiments of the presentdisclosure may take the form of a computer program product on acomputer-usable or computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the mediumfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. Acomputer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that cancontain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for useby or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice.

The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example butnot limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagationmedium. More specific computer-readable medium examples (anon-exhaustive list), the computer-readable medium may include thefollowing: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portablecomputer diskette, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM). Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable mediumcould even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program isprinted, as the program can be electronically captured, via, forinstance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled,interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary,and then stored in a computer memory.

Embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, are described abovewith reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations ofmethods, systems, and computer program products according to embodimentsof the disclosure. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur outof the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or theblocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality/acts involved.

While certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described, otherembodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments of the presentdisclosure have been described as being associated with data stored inmemory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or readfrom other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storagedevices, like hard disks, solid state storage (e.g., USB drive), or aCD-ROM, a carrier wave from the Internet, or other forms of RAM or ROM.Further, the disclosed methods' stages may be modified in any manner,including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages,without departing from the disclosure.

Although the present disclosure has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of facilitating user participation in achallenge, wherein the challenge includes at least one condition to befulfilled by a user, the method comprising: receiving, using acommunication device, at least one recording from a recording deviceconfigured to record the challenge performed by the user to obtain theat least one recording; analyzing, using a processing device, the atleast one recording to determine if the at least one condition isfulfilled; and transmitting, using the communication device, informationabout at least one reward to the user device based on the analyzing. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition comprises atleast one allowed value related to at least one measurable parameterrelated to the challenge.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein theanalyzing includes obtaining at least one actual value related to the atleast one measurable parameter from the at least one recording.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the analyzing includes comparing the at leastone allowed value and the at least one actual value to determine if theat least one condition is fulfilled.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe recording device is the user device.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the recording device is configured to record the challenge basedon at least one pre-defined rule.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein theanalyzing includes: determining at least one characteristic of at leastone article related to the challenge before the challenge is performedand after the challenge is performed, wherein the at least one recordingincludes content before the challenge is performed and after thechallenge is performed; comparing the at least one characteristic of theat least one article before the challenge is performed and after thechallenge is performed to obtain a matching score; and authenticatingthe challenge based on the comparing.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinthe at least one recording includes an audio-video footage of the userperforming the challenge.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprisingtransmitting, using the communication device, the at least onecondition, and the at least one recording to a third party verifierdevice to determine the challenge completion.
 10. The method of claim 9further comprising receiving, using the processing device, at least oneof a confirmation, or a denial of the challenge completion from thethird party verifier device.
 11. A system of facilitating userparticipation in a challenge, wherein the challenge includes at leastone condition to be fulfilled by a user, the system comprising: acommunication device configured to: receive at least one recording froma recording device configured to record the challenge performed by theuser to obtain the at least one recording; and transmit, informationabout at least one reward to the user device based on an analyzing; anda processing device configured to analyze the at least one recording todetermine if the at least one condition is fulfilled.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the at least one condition comprises at least oneallowed value related to at least one measurable parameter related tothe challenge.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing deviceis configured to obtain at least one actual value related to the atleast one measurable parameter from the at least one recording.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the processing device is configured tocompare the at least one allowed value and the at least one actual valueto determine if the at least one condition is fulfilled.
 15. The systemof claim 11, wherein the recording device is the user device.
 16. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the recording device is configured to recordthe challenge based on at least one pre-defined rule.
 17. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the processing device is configured to: determine atleast one characteristic of at least one article related to thechallenge before the challenge is performed and after the challenge isperformed, wherein the at least one recording includes content beforethe challenge is performed and after the challenge is performed; comparethe at least one characteristic of the at least one article before thechallenge is performed and after the challenge is performed to obtain amatching score; and authenticate the challenge based on the comparing.18. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one recording includesan audio-video footage of the user performing the challenge.
 19. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the communication device is configured totransmit the at least one condition, and the at least one recording to athird party verifier device to determine the challenge completion. 20.The system of claim 19, wherein the communication device is configuredto receive at least one of a confirmation, or a denial of the challengecompletion from the third party verifier device.